GRAND FORKS, N.D.—Poor offensive execution cost the Vandal women's basketball team on Thursday night in their first ever conference meeting with North Dakota. Idaho missed 12 layups, including eight in the second half, falling at the Betty Engelstad Sioux Center 68-62.
“We just did not make layups tonight,” disappointed head coach Jon Newlee acknowledged. “We attacked the rim like we knew we could against these guys. We got there and we just could not execute. It is frustrating and disappointing.”
Christina Salvatore headlined the Idaho offense on Thursday. She scored a season-high 20 points, keeping the Vandals' hopes alive down the stretch. She hit three second-half triples, the first giving Idaho a 40-37 lead with 14:03 to play. She twice cut the UND lead to four in the second period, the latter being with 28 seconds reaming.
“Christina really did step up [tonight],” Newlee said. “That is what a leader should do. Those are the kind of games I am expecting and have been waiting for from Christina. This was the best overall game she has played in a while.”
An under-the-weather Stacey Barr was held scoreless in the first half (0-for-4). It was the first time since the 2013-14 opener at Gonzaga the Barr did not get on the board in a first half of play. She wound up with five points on the night, matching her lowest offensive output of the season. Brooke Reilly put in 12 points on 4-of-9 shooting. Ali Forde closed with nine points, all scored in the first 3:08 of the second half.
North Dakota (12-6, 4-2) had four players finish in double figures. Mia Loyd led UND with 20 points. Emily Evers notched a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds. North Dakota outshot Idaho 41.9 percent to 33.3 percent from the floor. UND doubled up the Vandals on the free-throw line, hitting 14-of-19 attempts compared to Idaho's 7-for-12.
Idaho (8-9, 2-4) used staunch defense to keep UND within reach. The Vandals snagged 25 defensive rebounds, holding UND to just 12 offensive boards. Both teams forced 15 turnovers on the night, but the Vandals capitalized more often. Idaho finished with points off turnovers to UND's 13. Idaho scored 18 second-chance points, limiting UND to just nine.
“We left this one out there,” Newlee frustratingly commented. “It is so disappointing to do what we wanted to do defensively. We made them shoot the three and we did a pretty good job inside. Overall we did a good job on defense. UND usually shoots well at home and we did a good job to hold them.”
A Barr three with 11:28 to play in the second half gave Idaho a 45-42 lead with 11:28 to go. Idaho gained a sense of momentum but missed did them in. A 19-9 run followed the Barr three and the Vandals lead turned into a 61-54 North Dakota advantage with 3:19 remaining.
Geraldine McCorkell led the Vandals' bench with eight points in 19 minutes. Karlee Wilson and Renae Mokrzycki combined for three points off the bench.
Idaho remains on the road on Saturday, taking on Northern Colorado. First tip from Greeley is set for 1 p.m. PT.
NOTES
Barr played in her 113 career game, tying her for 10th all-time…Idaho has now hit a three-point field goal in 216 consecutive games…Idaho falls to 2-3 in games decided by 10 points or less this season…the Vandals are now 2-6 following a win.
